SANTA CRUZ -- Ernestina Saldana uses a wheelchair to get around and for the past two years, her dog, Honey, has been a huge support for her.

Earlier this month, Saldana left Honey in her van for just a few minutes while she picked up bagels downtown. When she got back, her beloved pit bull terrier was gone. Someone had taken her faithful, four-legged companion.

She doesn't want to press charges, she says. She just wants her dog back, unharmed.

Saldana, who is paraplegic, adopted Honey from a shelter in Merced about two years ago and trained the pooch to be her service dog, helping her get out of bed, in and out of her wheelchair as well as other tasks.

"Finding the right dog is really hard -- you have to find one to meet the needs you have," said Saldana, a single mother. "She's so sweet, so smart. She really knows her commands."

On the afternoon of Feb. 1, Saldana parked her van in the area of Cedar and Maple streets and went to pick up some bagels at the Bagelry. Her 13-year-old daughter went in with her to use the restroom. Saldana was still waiting in line when her daughter went back to the car and discovered Honey was gone. She went back to tell her mother.

"I thought she was kidding," Saldana said.

Sure enough, Honey was gone. It had only been about 15 minutes, Saldana said.

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She went all over the neighborhood looking for her dog and asking people if they'd seen her. She went to the Louden Nelson Community Center, to San Lorenzo Park and to nearby businesses, searching frantically for hours. She filed a police report, and checked with the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter but her dog wasn't to be found.

It's now been two weeks and Saldana is desperate to have Honey back. She chokes up when she talks about the light brown-and-white dog she loves.

"She's not just my service dog," she said.

She's been hanging up flyers around the area and checks with the animal shelter daily. The more days pass though, the more she worries about what's happened to her dog.

Honey wasn't wearing identification tags at the time, but is microchipped. Saldana estimates her dog to be about 4½ years old and 60 pounds, wearing a bright pink harness at the time of her disappearance.

Saldana doesn't want anyone to be afraid of getting in trouble, she said. Anyone who knows where Honey is is welcome to call her directly at 209-261-2420 or contact the county Animal Shelter at 831-454-7200.